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Hazel Crest is a village in Cook County, Illinois, situated in the south suburbs of Chicago. Like many south suburban communities, Hazel Crest has a significant renter population navigating a housing market where knowing your legal rights can mean the difference between keeping your home and losing it. Renters in Hazel Crest are most commonly looking for answers about security deposit returns, repair obligations, and what steps a landlord must follow before filing for eviction.
Because Hazel Crest has not enacted its own local tenant protection ordinances, the rights of renters here are governed entirely by Illinois state law — primarily the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710), the Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 715), and established Illinois common law on the implied warranty of habitability. Hazel Crest does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO), so Chicago-specific protections do not apply here.
This article summarizes the key tenant protections that apply in Hazel Crest under state law. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific legal dispute, consult a licensed Illinois attorney or contact a local legal aid organization.
Hazel Crest has no rent control, and Illinois state law prevents any municipality from enacting rent control. The Illinois Rent Control Preemption Act, codified at 765 ILCS 720/1 et seq., explicitly prohibits any county, municipality, township, or home rule unit from enacting, maintaining, or enforcing any ordinance that controls the amount of rent charged for residential property. This preemption has been in effect since 1997 and applies statewide — including to Cook County and every south suburban village such as Hazel Crest.
In practice, this means your landlord in Hazel Crest is free to raise your rent by any amount at the end of your lease term, provided they give you adequate written notice before the new term begins. For a month-to-month tenancy, Illinois courts have generally applied the common-law principle that at least 30 days' advance written notice is required before a rent increase takes effect. There is no state statute that caps the percentage or dollar amount of any increase. If your lease has a fixed term, your landlord cannot raise your rent until that term expires unless the lease itself permits mid-term increases.
Renters who are concerned about large rent increases should review their lease carefully, understand their right to receive advance written notice, and consider contacting Illinois Legal Aid Online at www.illinoislegalaid.org for guidance.
The following state-level protections apply to all residential tenants in Hazel Crest, Illinois.
Implied Warranty of Habitability: Under Illinois common law, every residential lease carries an implied warranty of habitability. Landlords must maintain rental units in a condition that is safe, sanitary, and fit for human habitation. This includes functioning heating systems, weatherproofing, plumbing, and structural integrity. If a landlord breaches this warranty, Illinois courts have recognized a tenant's right to withhold rent, repair and deduct (in limited circumstances), or terminate the lease — though tenants should seek legal guidance before taking any of these steps.
Security Deposit Rules (765 ILCS 710 & 765 ILCS 715): The Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710) requires landlords to return a tenant's security deposit within 30 days after the tenancy ends, along with an itemized statement of any deductions. The Illinois Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 715) requires landlords who hold a security deposit for more than six months — and who own 25 or more units — to pay annual interest on that deposit. Failure to comply with these statutes can entitle the tenant to penalties. See the security deposit section below for full details.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (765 ILCS 720/1): Illinois law prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who have complained about code violations, contacted a government agency regarding habitability, or exercised any other legal right as a tenant. Retaliation can include raising rent, reducing services, or attempting to evict a tenant in response to protected activity. A landlord who retaliates may be liable for actual damages, attorney's fees, and court costs.
Notice to Terminate a Month-to-Month Tenancy: Illinois law requires at least 30 days' written notice to terminate a month-to-month residential tenancy. This requirement applies to both the landlord and the tenant. Notice must be delivered in writing and must specify the date on which the tenancy will end, which must fall at the end of a rental period (735 ILCS 5/9-207).
Self-Help Eviction Prohibition: Illinois law prohibits landlords from engaging in self-help eviction tactics such as changing locks, removing doors or windows, or shutting off utilities in order to force a tenant to vacate. A landlord must obtain a court order before removing a tenant from the premises. Violations may expose the landlord to civil liability.
Security deposit rules for Hazel Crest renters are governed by the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710) and the Illinois Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 715). Hazel Crest has not enacted any local ordinance on security deposits, so only state law applies.
No Statutory Cap: Illinois state law does not limit the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit. The deposit amount is set by the lease agreement.
Return Deadline — 30 Days: After a tenancy ends, a landlord must return the full security deposit (or the balance remaining after lawful deductions) within 30 days. If the landlord intends to make deductions for damages beyond normal wear and tear, they must provide the tenant with an itemized statement of those deductions, along with any paid bills or repair invoices, within the same 30-day period (765 ILCS 710/1).
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: If a landlord fails to return the deposit or provide the required itemized statement within 30 days, the tenant is entitled to recover twice the amount of the security deposit wrongfully withheld, plus court costs (765 ILCS 710/1). Tenants should document the condition of the unit at move-in and move-out with dated photographs and written records to support any claim.
Interest on Deposits (765 ILCS 715): Landlords who own 25 or more residential units and hold a security deposit for more than six months are required to pay the tenant interest on the deposit, at a rate set annually by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Failure to pay interest may also trigger a penalty equal to the security deposit amount itself.
Practical Tips: Always get a written receipt for your deposit, document all pre-existing damage in writing before or at the time of move-in, provide your forwarding address to your landlord in writing upon vacating, and keep copies of all communications.
Eviction in Hazel Crest follows the Illinois Eviction Act (735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq.), which governs the procedural steps a landlord must follow. Illinois law does not require just cause for eviction — a landlord may decline to renew a lease for any lawful reason as long as proper notice is given.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, a landlord must serve the tenant with a written notice. The type and length of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Filing in Court: If the tenant does not comply with or vacate after the notice period expires, the landlord may file an eviction complaint in the Cook County Circuit Court — specifically in the First Municipal District courthouse at the Daley Center in Chicago or the appropriate subcircuit courthouse. The tenant will be served with a summons and a hearing date.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both the landlord and tenant appear before a judge. The tenant has the right to present defenses such as payment of rent, habitability failures, or retaliatory eviction. If the court finds in favor of the landlord, it will issue an Order for Possession specifying when the tenant must vacate.
Step 4 — Enforcement: If the tenant does not vacate by the date in the Order for Possession, the landlord may request a Writ of Assistance from the court. Only a Cook County sheriff's deputy can physically remove a tenant under a valid writ — a landlord cannot do so themselves.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: Under Illinois law, a landlord who changes the locks, removes the tenant's belongings, shuts off utilities, or otherwise attempts to force a tenant out without a court order is committing an unlawful self-help eviction. Tenants who experience this can seek emergency injunctive relief in court and may recover damages. Contacting the Lawyers Committee for Better Housing (www.lcbh.org) is strongly recommended if you face an unlawful lockout.
The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws, local ordinances, and court procedures can change, and the application of the law to your specific situation may differ from the general summaries provided here. RentCheckMe makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or currency of this information. Renters facing eviction, security deposit disputes, habitability problems, or other legal issues are strongly encouraged to consult a licensed Illinois attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization such as Illinois Legal Aid Online (www.illinoislegalaid.org) or Prairie State Legal Services (www.pslegal.org) for advice tailored to their individual circumstances.
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